Apprentice John Hayden, a sailor in the U.S. Navy, received the Medal of Honor for gallantry on July 15, 1879 off The Battery, New York Harbor, New York — a peacetime act of courage recognized in the Interim 1871 - 1899 period. At the time he was serving with U.S. Training Ship Saratoga. Hayden was about 16 years old.
One other service member also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.
Hayden was born in 1863 in Washington, District of Columbia. Hayden died in 1934 in California, at the age of about 71. He is buried at San Francisco National Cemetery in San Francisco, California.
Official Medal of Honor citation
On board the U.S. training ship Saratoga. On the morning of 15 July 1879, while the Saratoga was anchored off The Battery, in New York Harbor, R.L. Robey, apprentice, fell overboard. As the tide was running strong ebb, the man, not being an expert swimmer, was in danger of drowning. David M. Buchanan, apprentice, instantly, without removing any of his clothing, jumped after him. Stripping himself, Hayden stood coolly watching the two in the water, and when he thought his services were required, he made a dive from the rail and came up alongside them and rendered assistance until all three were picked up by a boat from the ship.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in District of Columbia →
Timeline
- 1863Born in Washington, District of Columbia
- July 15, 1879Act of valor — off The Battery, New York Harbor, New YorkAge about 16. U.S. Training Ship Saratoga
- 1934Died in CaliforniaAge about 71.
- Resting placeSan Francisco National CemeterySan Francisco, California
Biography
John Hayden (1863 – February 26, 1934) was a United States Navy sailor and a recipient of the United States military’s highest decoration, the Medal of Honor.
From the Wikipedia article “John Hayden (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →